Tag Archives: adolescent

America’s young people continue to experiment with drugs in increasing numbers and at increased risk. The annual survey on adolescent drug abuse, the Monitoring the Future survey, shows that while alcohol consumption is declining slightly, more youth are abusing marijuana. And today’s marijuana is far stronger and more dangerous than the marijuana used by their parents or grandparents.

In the mid-1980s, the active ingredient of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, existed at a 3.6% level on average. But by 2009, the average THV content was close to 10 percent. The highest THC content detected in 2009 was 32 percent THC. Hydroponic processes and cross-breeding procedures are carefully utilized to increase the potency.

However, with additional potency comes increased risk of addiction. A study in the Netherlands showed that younger smokers of the drug had higher scores on dependency.

Young People Prone to Abuse of More Drugs than Just Marijuana

It’s not just marijuana that ranks high in adolescent drug abuse. Prescription drugs also rate high on the list of drugs they tend to abuse. Students who need to cram for tests or finish term papers for high school or college may be attracted to abuse of Ritalin or Adderall. These stimulants are said to help these young people focus longer and better but they are still addictive and damaging.

A young person might feel that he or she needs this edge to keep up with the competition, but the drugs are addictive. If he wants to stop using them, he may be unable to quit. This can lead to illegal actions like prescription fraud or buying them from someone else who has a prescription.

Alcohol abuse routinely starts in the teens for millions of American teens. A news report from March 2012 described the problems that young women are experiencing with heavy consumption of alcohol. Some young women “load up” with alcohol before they go to parties at which no alcohol is allowed. The fact of so much substance abuse provides evidence that teens must lack sufficient education to recognize the danger implicit in drug abuse.

The National Institutes of Health noted that if a person can just delay alcohol consumption until after they are fifteen years old, they are five times less likely to abuse alcohol when they are grown. A person who starts substance abuse at such a young age needs to find an effective rehabilitation program that can enable him or her to have a long, sober future after that drug dependence.

Narconon Services Range from Drug Prevention to Rehabilitation

Around the world, there are more than one hundred twenty Narconon drug abuse prevention or rehabilitation centers. Fifty of these centers focus on rehab, offering long-term, residential programs that result in a seventy percent success rate. The remainder work with schools, clubs, civic groups to deliver the drug education curriculum of Narconon to young people and corporations.

The Narconon services at these rehab centers guide those who are addicted through a deep detoxification action that helps reduce cravings – sometimes even eliminating them, according to those who have completed it. Then each person executes Narconon life skills classes that develop the skills that will enable them to stay sober for the long haul, that will help them choose drug-free associates, that will enable them to overcome the obstacles that can crop up at any time.

Narconon services have a forty-five year history of helping addicts learn to live clean and sober. Learn how you can help someone you care about live a happy, sober, productive life through Narconon services. Find out the whole story by contacting a Narconon drug rehab counselor today at 1-800-775-8750.